District opens application process for new charter schools

(Photo courtesy: The Notebook)

The School District of Philadelphia’s application process for new charter schools is now open.

The application process is only for new, non-Renaissance charter schools to open in the 2015-16 school year. Interested operators can access the application form online through the Charter Schools Office webpage on the District website (www.philasd.org). The application sections address academic program, organizational compliance, finance and facilities, and community involvement and support.

The District encourages applications for high-quality charter schools. Any new schools will be considered in the context of the District’s budgetary constraints.

The District has not considered new regular charter schools since 2007. In past years, charter growth has come from the expansion of high-performing charter schools and the District’s Renaissance Charter Schools program, which started in 2010. Currently, there are 20 Renaissance Charter Schools.

The School District of Philadelphia oversees a system of approximately 300 public schools in Philadelphia, including traditional District schools and charter schools. With over 200,000 students in this system, the District recognizes and appreciates the value of each school and strives to offer the best possible options for students in Philadelphia. In overseeing this system, the District must consider the impact that each type of school has on the system of schools in terms of budgeting, choice, and quality.  The District acknowledges the important contributions of charter schools in providing choices to families in Philadelphia, while concurrently the District recognizes the broader impacts inherent in the opening of new charter schools.

Applications are due Nov. 15. For more information, contact 215-400-5270 or [email protected].

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